DAMN THE MACHINE
"Damn the Machine" (A&M;
1993)
Reviewed by Christopher J. Kelter
Damn The Machine was a band formed by Chris Poland
(ex-Megadeth) to display skillful guitar work in a more conventional setting than his solo
record.
Damn The Machine played an eclectic brand of heavy metal that combined elements of thrash
and progressive metal with skillful arrangements. Each track stands out as each song
has its own personality and important part to play within the world that was created for
this amazing debut. Damn The Machine plays with dexterity and employs many
techniques to convey their human struggles in the face of difficult sequences.
Vocally the band relied on singing rather than the "shouting method" which is
one the disc's strong points. Singing rather than screaming gave versatility to the
delivery of the lyrics. Lyrically the band covered a lot of subject matter ranging from
the dangers of the weapons of mass destruction, economic oppression, political uprisings,
and the strength of the individual in the face of de-humanizing technology. A sense of
hope shines through amidst a crumbling world.
Damn The Machine made brilliant sparks in the short time they left their creative mark on the musical landscape. It's a shame Damn The Machine didn't get the recognition they deserved at the time when the band existed (1992-1994). This is still one of my favorite discs even after all these years.
This disc is out of print; if you look hard enough I'm sure a copy can be found.
Damn The Machine's self-titled debut was produced by Brian
Malouf (Queen, Arcade).
Damn The Machine was Chris Poland on guitar, Mark Poland on drums, David Randi on bass and
background vocals, and Dave Clemmons on lead vocals as well as rhythm and lead guitars.
For more information visit Chris Poland's website http://www.thuntek.net/~rich/poland/ and navigate your way towards Damn The Machine.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 1999 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights
reserved.
Revised: 18 Nov 2024 13:33:11 -0500.
